Power-operated window regulator



April 10, 1945. E. L. ACKERMAN ET AL 2,373,085

4 POWER OPERATED WINDOW REGULATOR 2O 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

INVENTOR. fdn ar-a L. drier/r74 BY ,4/4 eff/f/V/f/fi nrrmPA/E) April 10 19 5. E. L. AKERMAN mp 2,313,98

POWER OPERATED WINDOW REGULATOR Filed nee. 20, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR. fan W4 fiche/W70 Wan 49 April l0, 1945. E. L. ACKERMAN ET AL POWER OPERATED WINDOW REGULATOR Filed Dec. 20, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Apri! 10,1945. I E, L.ACKERMAN ETAL I 2,373,085v

POWER OPERATED WINDOW REGULATOR Filegl Dec. 20,1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 1 Edw rd L. flake/man 6/ B fl/ber/"k 6/ 0/77,

April 10, 1945. E. ACKERMAN ETAL 2,373,035

POWER OPERATED WINDOW REGULATOR Filed Dec. 20, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 10, 1945.

POWER OPERATED WINDOW REGULATOR Filed Dec. 20, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 V INVENTOR. Edna/'0 L. idea/r74 E. L. ACKERM N ETAL 2,373,085

Patented Apia w, 3945 estates rowsa-ornaa'ran wmnow REGULATOR Edward L. Ackerman and Albert v. Crump, Detroit, Mich., assignors to Ackerman-Blaesser- Fezzey, Inc., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December 20, 1941, Serial No. 428,759

' Claims. (Cl. 268-425) This invention relates to power operated windowregulators. the object being to provide a power actuated means for effecting movement actuated means to permit the window to be manually moved to fully closed or fully open position or to a position therebetween in the event the power actuated means'becomes inoperative.

Other objects and features of the invention reside in the structural relationship of parts functioning in response to power application to raise or lower the-window in its guide channels and including a trackway for a window supporting I structure providing a guide for the window to prevent subjection of the window pressure in a direction transversely of or parallel with the plane of the window in raising or lowering the same.

These and other objects and features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed and a power operated window regulator embodying 'our invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in whichl Fig. l is an elevation partly in section showin the preferred form and structural arrangement of parts.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevationpartly broken away showing the structural relationship of parts of the regulator mechanism. F1Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on of Fi 2.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. ii is an elevation'partly broken away showing the position of the parts of the regulator mechanism when the window is in raised position and the mechanism is released for downward movement.

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the-position of the parts of the regulator mechanism when the window is lowered in released position.

Fig. '8 is a similar view-showing the position of the parts prior to the window being lowered to the full extent.

line 4-4 mounted in the sash or glass recess below the window opening.

In the usual bodies of automotive vehicles the opposite vertical edges of the glass or sashrides in guide channels 2 and 3 and is movable to position to close the window opening 6 below which is the sash recess or pocket 5. Within the sash pocket is a pair of rails 6 and I the upper ends ofv which are secured to the inner wall 8 of the sash pocket and the lower ends of which are secured to the inner wall of the sash pocket. The sash or glass I is secured in a channel I 0 to which is secured a, plate II and the plate in turn is fixedly secured to a carriage frame or plate l2 having at each of its opposite ends a pair of grooved rollers I3, l3 and I4, ll which ride the flanges l5 and I6 of the respective rails 6 and 1.,

These rollers are provided to prevent lateral or longitudinal displacement of the plate 82 carrying the sash or glass due to pressure applied .thereto by the regulator mechanism in raising or lowering the same as by meansof the regulator arm H which is pivoted at its'free end to a link l8 which in turn is pivoted at its opposite end to'the plate l2 as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 10 the plate l9 carrying. parts of the regulator mechanism is secured to the inner wall 8 of the sash pocket 5 and the regulator arm I! is on the outer face of the plate ls and secured to a pin 20. The plate is provided with a recess 2| in the face of the plate toward the inner wall of the sash recess and in the said plate recess is a coiled spring 22 having its outer end secured to a mg 23 projecting inwardly of the plate recess, the opposite end of the spring is secured in a slot inthe pin 20. The purpose of the spring 22 is to provide a counterbalance for Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the position the sash and plate I! and the pin 20 is secured in fixed relation to tire arm l1 and, by movement of the arm II, the sash may be raised or lowered.

The contiguous end of the arm 24 is pivoted on the'pin 20 and the lower end of the arm M is pivotally connected to the end of the piston rod 25 to which is attached the piston -26 in the cylinder 21 which has one end pivoted at 28. By-inovement of the piston in the cylinder 21 the arm 24 is swung to the right or left to raise or lower the window. The'piston 26 is moved in the cylinder 25 by exhaustion of air on one side or the other of the piston as is hereinafter more fully described.

It is necessary to lock the arms I! and 24 in the angular relationship-of parts shown in-Flg.

1 so that movement of the arm 24 moves the am 2 as'zaoes this purpose I provide a latch 29 pivoted at to the arm l1. The latch 28 is formed on a radius at opposite edges II and 32 and in the position oi' parts-shown in Fig. 1 has a notch at the free end to fit a pin" on the arm '24. Also on the said arm 24 is a pin 34' spaced from the pin-53 at a distance slightly greater than the width of the latch 28 thus permitting the latch 29 to pass between the pins 33 and 34 in lowering the window by hand. To permit the window to be low- 83 and 34' and thus when it is being moved it is held from material displacement. For the purpose of releasing the latch 29 from locked relation with the arm 'il, as shown more clearly in Fig. '4, I provide a flanged cup 35 which is secured to the inner face of the plate is andthe flange of the cup engages the inner, and usually fabric covered, surface oi the body interior rep- I resented by the-dotted line in Figs/3 and 4. In the cup member '35 is a button 51 attached to a pin It and the button is held outwardly of the cup 35 to position shown in Fig. 3 by the coiled spring I! inthe cup.

The inner end of the pin 38 engages the tree 'end of a lever 40 pivoted. at 4i to the upper end of-the stationary plate Ill which pin passes a through the ears 42' or the lever-40 at one side oi the plane oi' the plate and providing an end 42 that engages the-inturned end 44 of the bar 45 slidably mounted on the-plate IS. The bar 45 is held in the position shown in Fig. 2 by a coil spring 45a. By pushing on the button :1 the lever is moved from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. .4 thereby raising the bar 45 and, due to the bar having an inturned end 45 engaging the edge ll of the latch 28, the latch 29 is turned on its pivot 30 from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Thi frees the arm 24 from locked relation with the arm I! therebyfreeingthe sash or glass to movement by hand if desired or in case the operating mechanism becomes inoperative. The bar 45 has a slot 41 for a pin 48 secured to the plate I! and also has-a slot 49 for the headed pin iland, when the'latc in dotted lines Fig. 2 by theb'ar 45, the arm I! is released from the power arm 24 permitting the window to be raised or lowered manually to a desired position and tree from control by the power actuator. This is desirable in the case of emergency as 'for-instancewhen the power apparatus is out ofcommission. The latch 25 is also spring restrained toward locked position shown inl 'igl 1 by means or a bar 290 pivoted at 25b to the latch as 2| and the lower end oi the bar 290 has a cylin- I drical end portion 290 extend-ingthrough an ap- 'erture in a clip 20d. A s'pring29e ispositioned on the said extension 290 tending to turn the latch 2 to locked position asshown inlull lines in Fig. 2. p

The power mechanism includes the cylinder 21 and piston 25 therein, the piston rod 25 being connected with the arm 24. The piston is mov- 29 is raised to the position shown trolling the piston position is shown in Fig. i

in which there is a valve casing 5| mounted at any convenient point within the automobile body preferably within reach of the driver of the ve- 5 hicle. There is an opening 52 in one end of the casing and an opening'53 at the opposit end and within the piston casing 5i is a slide valve 54 preferably cupped at its opposite ends, as shown, and'a coiled spring 55 is positioned in the i0 cup at one' end of a piston and a similar spring 58 15 positioned in the cup at the opposite end of-the piston. These coiled springs are of approximately equal tension and approximately center the valve in the casing. The openings 52 1g and 53 provide for ingress and egress of air as would be occasioned by movement of the piston by the knob 5'l having a stem extending through a slot 58 and threaded in the body of the valve and whereby the valve may be manually moved in the casing in either of twodirections longitudinally of the casing. 0n the opposite side of the casing Irom'that occupied by the control knob is a tube 59 which is connected with the intake manifold of the engine and subject'to the reduced pressure condition of the manifold.

There is aconduit 6|! leading from one end of the valve casing to one end of the cylinder 21 and there is also a conduit 6| leading from the other side of the valve casing to the opposite end of o the cylinder 21. Thesetwo conduits 60 and iii are normally closed to the valve casing 5| in the position of the valve shown in Fig. 1.

By' moving theknob 51' and sliding the valve toward either end of the (valve casing one or the other of the conduits 60 or Si is opened to atmosphere and to-the corresponding openings 52 or 53. Assuming that'the valve 54 has been moved to open the conduit 6i to the slot 62, the conduit 85 would be opened to atmosphere and 40 .thus partial vacuum would be produced on the left side of the piston 25 of the cylinder 21 and air from atmosphere supplied to the right side of the piston. This would cause the piston to be moved in the direction of the arrow and turn 45 the levers 24 and ll to lower the window. The window maybe partially or wholly lowered due to the time interval in which the valve isheld in the stated position and on release thereof the valve assumes the position shown in Fi 1 under 0 influence of the springs 55 and 56 and the window would remain in the partially or wholly open position depending on the time period in which the valve is held'in the stated position. Assuming that the window is in the down position and I 5 the piston 25jatthe left hand end of the cylinder 21 the window would be raised by moving the valve in the opposite direction to open the cylinder, 21 to atmosphere on one side of the piston and the reduction in pressure on the opp'osite side.

During the time period in which the valve 54 is held to open the conduit 60 or iii to the space 52, air from atmosphere may flow to one side or the other of the piston 26 depending upon which conduit, 85 or 6|, is'open to the space 62 and the other conduit is open to atmosphere through the port 52 or 53 as the case may be.

Thus by movement of the valve in either direction the cylinder on one side of the piston is opened to atmosphere 'while the other side is sub- Ject to influence of partial vacuum and thus efle'cts movement of .the piston and consequent operation of the regulator mechanism. Upon movement oi the glass or. sash under influence able byginiiuence or a vacuum and means for conof the vacuum on thepiston 25 to a desired open ao'zaoes or closed position the valve element, by simply releasing the same to the action of the springs 55 and 56, automatically causes cessation of movement of the piston and consequentlyof the glass. Thus the operator may position the glass as may be desired.

It is also to be observed that only one window of the vehicle is shown as under control of the power mechanism but, in the event it is desired to control more than one window at a time, a valve member and the operating mechanism, such as indicated in Fig. 1, may be used for each window thus enabling. the passenger to control the position of any window or windows therein.

It is believed evident from the foregoing description that the various features and objects of the invention are attained by the mechanism described and that the regulator for any one orv more windows of an automobile is comparatively simple in construction permitting the practically instant operation of the regulator by influence of the reduced pressure condition in the cylinder 27 at one side or the other of the piston 26. It is pointed out that, on cessation of operation of the engine, a reduced pressure condition exists in the cylinder at one side or the other of the piston and may be utilized to operate the regulator mechanism in the usual manner. The described arrangement of parts thus provides a, certain stored powr depending upon the volumetric capacity ofthe cylinder which may be varied to suit specific requirements. In the event of any defect in the operating mechanism the window may be released to permit manual operation by simply pushing the button 37 or otherwise releasing the arms 87 and 24 from the locked relationship. It is further to be understood that various modifications may be made in various parts of the mechanism within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.- I Having thus fully described our invention, its utility and mode of operation, what we claim and. desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In mechanism for raising or lowering a glass or sash in respect to a window opening in the body of an automotive vehicle having guides for the glass; a glass operating arm pivotally sup-,

ported at one end on the body of the vehicle and operatively connected at the opposite end to the glass, an arm pivoted at one end to turn on an axis, a spring pressed. latch element pivoted on the glass operating arm and having a notch, a pin on the said second arm engageable in said desired angular relationship, a power element connected with the second of said arms and operable at will to turn the arms as a unit when the latch element is in engagement with the said pin, means for releasing the latch element from the pin to free the glass operating arm to turn independently of the arm connected with the power apparatus, and spring means connected with the glass operating arm providing a. counterbalance for the glass.

2. In mechanism for raising or lowering a glass or sash in respect to a windowopening in the body of an automotive vehicle, a glass operating arm pivotally connected at one end with the sash or glass and pivotally supported at the opposite end on the vehicle body to turn on an axis' at a right angle to the plane of movement of the sash or glass, a second arm pivotally associated at one end with the pivoted end of the glass operating'arm, a power means under control of the operator connected with the free end of the said second arm, means for securing the arms together to turn as a unit on the axis of the glass operating arm said means comprising a latch pivoted at one end to the glass operating arm between its pivot point and the end thereof as sociated with the glass, said latch member having a notch therein at a distance from its pivot point, a pin on the second arm adjacent the pivot point thereof engageable in'the notch'oi the latch whereby the arms may be turned in releasably fixed angular relation, said power means comprising a cylinder-and piston therein, a piston rod or sash in a plane practically parallel with the plane a window opening in the body of an automotive vehicle, having a glass recess below the window opening, comprising a plate secured in the sash recess at one side of the window opening, an arm having a pin at one end pivotally supported by the plate, said pin extending ate, right angle to the plane of movement of the glass or sash, a glass carrying element with which the opposite end of the arm is connected in a pivotal association, a spring having an end attached to the shaft and the opposite end attached to the plateto counterbalance the weight of the sash and arm, a second arm pivoted on th said shaft of the first .arm, means for securing the arms in fixed angular relationship comprising a latch pivotally secured to one of the arms between its pivot point and the end thereof associated with the glass and detachably connected with the other of said arms between its pivot point and the free ,end thereof, a power means attached to the free end of the second of said arms and operable when th arms are attached to turn the arms on the axis of said shaft to raise or lower the glass, and means under control of the operator for applying the power means to raise or lower the glass.

notch of the latch when the arms are in the r 4. In mechanism for raising or lowering a glass or sash in its plane in respect to a window. opening-in the body of an automotive vehicle having inner and outer spaced walls providing a recess opening to the window opening at one side thereof, a window operating arm operatively associated at one end with theglassor sash and turnable on a fixed axis at a right angle to the plane of movement thereof, a power means within the recess, a second arm'connected at one end with thepower means and at the opposite end tumable on the fixed axis ofthe first arm, a latch pivoted to the first arm between the pivot point and the end thereof associated with the glass and releasably secured at its opposite end to the other arm between its pivot point and the end thereof connected with the power means, said latch providing a means for locking the arms together to permit turning of the arms as a unit by the power means, means manually operable from the interior of the vehicle to release the pivoted ingarm, a link connecting one end of the said arm with the glass and-sash, a. plate to which the opposite end of the arm is pivoted, a second arm pivoted at one end on the pivot point of the first' arm, a power means connected with the opposite end of the second arm for turning ,the 8 same on the axis of the first arm, a latch-member pivotally connected at one end to the first arm engag'eable in the notch to thereby connect the arms together to operate as a unit in raising or lowering thesash, and means operable from.

within the vehicle body to release th latch thereby disconnecting the said arms and permitting manual operational the glass or sash.

EDWARD L. ACKERMAN. mam v. c um. 

